Signal-indicating system and apparatus



G. M. SACERDOTE avwe'ntoz March 12, 1929.

SIGNAL INDICATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS 11 j fi I 6 s ||Il||| l-ll llllllll A Til n .L o \J ooooooo moo 0000000 0000 00000 oooooooooooooooomoco oooooooooooooo 00000000 000000000 ooc aoaoooo 00000000 0000009000000 0000000 000 0000000 0000000 000 0 0 0 000 00 0000000 2 mmmwmwww o o O 0 00000 00000 0 0000 0000 C O O O O O 0000 0000 0000 0000 O0 0 000 00 00 Q D I. 000 \1 000 00 m MM wwwo N O 0 0 o o 0000 0000 I O0000 O0 0 o O Y 0000 000 U 0 000 0 00 O 000 00 0 000 OO O U 0 O 0% n a ou 0 0 0 0 .0 0 n 0 0 0o 0 O a 0 0 0 mm H 0000 o 0 0 0 0 00 o o u wmo S Q0 0 a 0G I 0000 O 0 O O 0 000000 0 0 WMMWO O 2 0 o 0 00000 O f 0000000000000 0 0 O 0 00 I 0 00000000000 X o a: R mwwmwwmwmo 00 0000 0000000 000 ooooooooooaoOooooo o n n oooooooooooowom m oooooooooooooooooooo O c 0000000000000 0 00 0.000000000000000000 0000000000000000 000000000000000000000000 o a 0 0 000000000000000 0O iooobolotoioboooooooooa o 00000000000000 00 L oooooooooooooooooooooooo o o 0 0000000000000 00l 00000000000000000000000000 0000 o 0000000000000 00ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo 00000000000 0 O0o000000000oooooooooooooooooo ooooooo 0000000000 00ooooooooooooooooo00000000000000.0000o 00000000 000 00O000.000.000.0000oooobooooooeoooocooo 00000000 000 00ooooooooooooocooooooooooooooooooooooo 00000000000 00ooooo000000000000oosoooooooooooooooo 000000 0000 O0o000000000000000000000000000000 00000 000000 00000 6 O0ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo 4 0Oooooooooooooocooooooooooooooooooooooo 00oooooooonooooooooooooooooocoocooooooo 00oocoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cooooooooooooouooooooaoocoooooooooooooo a ,5: 1 0 .5 En w 1 l l l l l I Il I i l l l l l l l l l l l l l l llFFlltlllllllllllL March 12, 1929. M,ACE DO'TE 1,705,030

SIGNAL INDIGATING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed March 5, 192 6 2Sheets-Sheet 2 QQQGOQGQGG @GGGGOGOGCD @OCDGGQGQQO Patented Mar. 12,1929.

UNITED STATES 1,705,030 PATENT OFFICE.

sumo M. SAC'ERDOTE, or NEW YORK, 1v. Yl

SIGNAL-INDIGATING SYSTEM. A D ArrAnA'rU's.

l Application filed March a, 1926. Serial No. 91,947.

provide a signal display device of a novel and improved design in whichthe various signs and indications are obtained by various combinationsof luminous points, the construc- 1 tion of the device being such thatthese points may be very numerous and very close together in arelatively small space. This not only permits of displaying an infinitevariety of combinations of letters and words but it also permits ofapplying this system of signal displaying in connection with devices ofrelatively small proportions, adapted for use in windows, railroad cars,and for other purposes v'vhere signal display devices of relativelysmall size are now employed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a signal display deviceof the character mentioned, the construction of which is extremelysimple, the number'of moving parts and of controlling electric circuitshaving been reduced to a minimum.

Another object is to generally simplify and improve signal displaydevices of this charactor and to provide easily adjusted and easilyoperated devices which may be used for displaying various indicationsand signals which may be changed at all times without necessarilyentailing changes in the electric circuits employed.

With these and other objects in view as will more fully appear as thedescription proceeds, this invention furthermore comprises certain noveland improved constructions and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter described and claimed in the appended claims.

The main characteristicsof my invention are its compactness andsimplicity. The

former is made possible by avoiding the complications accompanying theuse of numerous electric lamps arranged on a board such as are nowemployed in large outdoor electric signs,which are based to a certainextent on the same principle.

In the device forming the object of the present invention, the displayboard is constituted by an opaque front plate provided with a The,primary object of this invention is to multiplicity of openings whichare normally blocked or closed by individual stoppers or shutters; sothat by displacing said closing means or by otherwise uncovering certaingroups of openings the various combinations of signals or words formedthereby will instantly'become visible due to light at the rear of saidboard showing through said openings. The stoppers or shutters arepreferably made capable of axial displacement, so that no side spacebeing required for theirzmovement, they may be arranged very closetogether in a relatively small space which accordingly acquires a largesignal displaying capacity.

' In order to make this .point clearer, it will be noted that in a signof this 'kind each letter space requires a certain minimum quantity ofluminous points if any one letter or number has to be displayed in saidspace; therefore the minimum size of each letter space is strictlydependent upon the space required by each individual luminous pointentering into the varlous combinations.

Although the shutters may be controlled independently of one another, Iprefer to mechanically or electromagnetically control the same inprearranged groups, using a single control means for each group. Such anarrangement affords the possibility of producing a thoroughly reliabledevice of a sturdy and relatively simple construction, composed of partswhich are strong and adapted to be positively operated notwithstandingtheir small size; furthermore, this. arrangement permits the employmentof electrical circuits controlled by means which are entirely exposedand accessible at all times, if an electric or electro-magneticsystem ofcontrol is employed.

' My improved device is suitable fora great variety of uses; it is Welladapted for display and advertising purposes and it can also be used forthe transmission of signals in place of the well known telegraph systemssuch as used in ships, power houses, etc., for the selectivetransmission of predetermined orders of a standard character from onepoint to another.

Another typical application is in connection with station indicatorsadapted to be mounted in the carsof railroad and subway systems in orderto indicate the next stop, at the same time displaying advertisingmatter if desired.

The device may therefore be connected for automatic operation by meansof a controller,

comparable to those used in connection with outdoor electric signs,c-ausin the successive appearance of a. series of-prec etermined signalsor indications,- or else the device may be connected to a hand operatedcontroller, causing the appearance of signals or indications, such asthe operator may choose. In the case of a station indicator, which isrepresented in .the drawings, the system preferably includes a pluralityof signal display devices, 1 or 2 for each car, connected in parallel orin series to a controller operated by the conductor of the train. Bysuch an arrangement the system is extremely flexible and the sameinstallation may be used both for local and express stations on the sameline.

In addition to possessing the various 'advantages mentioned, this systemalso permits of realizing conditions which are a decided improvementupon those encountered'in the I operation of electric signs of theordinary type. For instance, the appearance of two successive displaysin a sign of the ordinary type, must be separated by a certain period oftime in order to avoid confusion due to the afterglow. In the presentcase, the aftepglow does not exist, because the openings are either shutor open and the arrangement therefore produces sharp and suddenappearance and disappearance of the matter displayed. I

In the preferred form of device as stated, the shutters are in the formof axially movable-bars, terminating ina conical head projecting withinthe openings of the'board from the inside. The appearance ,of the lightbeyond each opening is caused by moving its shutter bartowards the rearof the device away from the board; and this permits of obtaining adisplay of. more or less intensity according to the axial displacementof the shutter bar.

It is therefore possible to display signs or signals where certain.words stand out more than others on account of their greater brillianey,this beingobtained by moving the corresponding shutter bars away fromtheir openings, a greater distance thant-he shutter bars correspondingto the other words or signals. It is also possible to obtain variouscolors or combinations of colors for different displays or for differentparts of the same display, without increasing the total number ofluminous points.

In the premises and throughout the specification, I refer to the displayboard as comprising a plurality of luminous points hecause this is themostobvious and most practical way of carrying the invention intopractiee, however, it is also possible to display the same signalsmerely by varying the visibility of the various points. For instance, iftlie entire dis lay board including the tapered ends 0 the shutter barsis painted white by moving a certain combination of shutter bars awayfrom the board, it is also possible to produce a distinguishable displayindication or signal, due to the dark or black appearance of theopenings which have thus become uncovered standing out against the widefield of the board.

In the majority of cases however, it is preferable to display luminoussignals, this merely requiring the addition of a suitablesource of lightat the rear. of the display board. The invention will be better under--stood by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 1s afront view In elevation partly broken away of a station indicatorembodyin" my invention Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a side View of the same partly sectioned and broken away;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary lan sectional view of the rear part of the eviceshowing the manner in which its various parts are assembled andadjusted; r a

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front View of a section of display board showingthe display of letters with different intensities;

Fig. 6 is 'a detail sectional side View of the same, also illustratingthe construction of the front part of the shutter bars; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail side view in elevation of a possible formof individual shutter bar control which may be applied instead of thegroup control illustrated in theother drawifigs- 1 In its preferred formmy improved device substantially comprises a perforated front displayboard having its perforations arranged in horizontal and vertical rowsor in any other sultable systematic arrangement permitting the .displayof letters, numbers, or other si als. At the rear of said-board there isa llght chamber which is preferably provided with a reflecting surfaceopposite the board, and which is lighted in any suitable manner, forinstance, by means of electric bulbs of elongated form arranged alongits sides, assisted by suitable reflectors dirccting the light inwardly.The openings in the display board are controlled y axially movableshutter bars co-axial t e rewith which project to the rear beyond thelight i be caused in any suitable manner, for instance by energizing aset of electromagnets for each board so that the device is suitable forassociation with and controlled by some suitable controlling deviceplaced at some remote point.

The various signals or indications displayed are set in advance byproper arrangement of the connections between the operating boards andthe shutter bars, butthe signals controlled by any one board may bechanged at will at anyone time due to the simple manner in which thevarious combinations may beformed. Referring to the drawings, 10designates a casing at the front partof which is mounted a perforateddisplay board llgprovided with a plurality of openings 12, in closesystemtic arrangement permitting the formation of all the necessarycombinations needed to display various letters, numbers, or othersymbols oi designs.

' At the rear of said display board is a coinparatively narrow lightchamber 13, delimited by a bottom 14 parallel to and at a certaindistance to the rear of display board 11. Said light chamber is providedat its periphery with electric bulbs 15 or with any other suitable meansfor generating light, and said light is preferably reflected towards thecenter of the light chamber by means of reflectors 16. Back 14 isprovided With openings corre-. sponding to openings 12 of the displayboard providing guiding means for stems 17 of the shutter bars 18.

Said shutter bars are mounted at the rear.

of the displayboard, transversely thereto, one

for each openmg, and are each provided with a button or head 19 normallyabutting against the rear of its corresponding opening due to the actionof pressure springs 20 at the rear. Each pressure spring is placedbetween a collar 21 mounted upon the bar and the back of the casing 22,which is also perforated to allow the rear end of thebars to projecttherethrough as shown at 23; therefore, while the bars can be movedaxially to the rear against the action of their corresponding springs,as soon as released the springs will automatically return them to theirnormal position where their heads obstruct, the openings 12 of displayboard 11.

It is obvious that if certain groups of bars corresponding to certaincombinations of letters or other signals are simultaneously displaced tothe rear, the corresponding openings will appear lighted so lthat thedesired indication or signal will stand out clearly readable and definedby luminous dots. The brilliancy of the display will be greatly enhancedif the heads 19 of the shutter bars are made of mirrored or cut glass orof polished material or metal of a shape Well adapted for reflecting thelight issuing from the side bulbs, and if, furthermore they are nickelor silver plated. In this case each-shutter bar posing 1t.

head acts as an independent reflector, and the The same figure alsoillustrates the possibllity of displaying certain letters or words,

more brilliantly than others, as it will be observed that the words HoytSt? appear composed of dots which are more visible than the dotscomposing the words Use Ogoedidusto.

This possibility is also illustrated in detail in Figs. 5 and 6, Fig..6- being a side sectional view in elevation through line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

In the same it will be seen that the D is more prominently displayedthan the letter U and that this effect isobtained by moving the shutterbars such as 24 corresponding to the letter U a shorter distance to therear than the shutter bars 25 corresponding to the let ter D. Due to theconical shape of the heads 19'shown, a luminous ring of a smaller orgreater Width will thus be displayed, which is translated into less ormore visibility from a distant point. I

As previously explained, one of the seriously objectionable features ofelectric signs, where each dot is represented by a bulb is the necessityof wiring each bulb independently of the others; this necessity beingfurther complicated by the fact that each new combination of letters orsignals will again reice quire independent wiring for each bulb comofwires running from the controller tothe board and isa potential sourceof all kinds of breakdowns and other tro'ubles which are diliicult tolocate and to repair. type of control may be applied if desired inconnection with the device forming the object of the present invention,by providing individual means for the operation-of the shut- Thisresults in an enormous mass A similar ter bars, such an arrangement isnot seriously objectionable as long as the number of openings in theboard is relatively limited, as is the case in connection with carriagecall devices where only three letter or number spaces are generallyrequired. One of the ways in which the operation of the device may thusbe carriedout is illustrated in Fig. 7, where 26 is the rear end of oneof the shutter bars passing through plate 27 and provided with a tip 28which is the armature of an clectroinagnet 29. coaxial with said shutterbar and mounted upon bottom plate 30. lVhen electromagnet 29 isenergized it will attract armature 28, causing axial'rearward movementof the shutter bar against the action of spring 31, and as soon as theelectromagnet is deenergized the spring will force the shutter bar, backto its normal position. It is obvious that the circuits of theelectromagnets can be controlled in the same manner now employed incontrolling the invdividual circuits of electric bulbs, or else variouscombinations may also be obtained in a \simpler manner by inserting aplate or board perforated to correspond to the desired indicationbetween tips 28 and the electromagnets; then by energizing, all theelectromagncts, only those shutter bars which are opposite theperforations will be free to move away from the display board while theother shutter bars will be prevented from doing so by the thickness ofthe board interposed at the rear thereof.

. the electromagnets in the manner described.

It is obvious that in this case it will not be necessary to haveindividual electromagnets for each bar, since a single magnet extend ingover the entire surface of the device will do. This system is to bepreferred in such cases where it is desirable to have unlimited capacityin a device of moderate size and where it is possible to change theperforated board by hand or by some mechanical arrangement. However, I'prefer to use'the arrangement shown in the drawings on account of itssilnplicity and reliability and on account of the suddenness with whichsignals may be changed. The same comprises a plurality of plates 33,provide with perforations 34 correspondin to the shutter bars andinserted over said bars in serial spaced arrangement at the rear ofplate 14. Perforations 34 have a larger diameter than bars 18, as shownin detail in Fig. 4, so that it is possible to insert a series ofbushings 35 over the bars, still permitting the insertion of plates 33in position, the outer diameter of said bushings being equal to thediameter of openings 34. 1 J

If now it is possible to so arrange the various parts that each'platewill control a certain number or group of bars, so that if that plate isdisplaced to the rear it will cause a corresponding movement of the barsin said group; it will be understood that it will be sufficient toestablish a suitable control .causing the selective movement of oneplate or another, in order torenderthe device operative.

In the drawings, I show an arrangement which may be employed to causedisplacement of the plates tothe rear. In the same the plates are shownsupported upon and guided by four corner bars 36 maintaining said platesin correct alignment.- The bars 36 are a little smaller in diameter thanthe corresponding openinge in the plates, permitting the insertionetween the bars and the plates of bushings 37,, theouter diameter d "tothe rear, so that when the entire series of.

bushings is inserted in position together with thecorresponding plates,each plate can be displaced rearwardly as far as the flanges of thebushings on whichthe plate is supported,

but cannot be moved forwardly because it abuts against the flanges 38 ofthe bushings in front of it. Two opposite sides of each plate areengaged by forked members such as 39 .which are laterally projectingfrom stems 40, 41, pivotally mounted at 42, 43, parallel to the sides ofthe plate engaged thereby. Said stems are also provided with another armor projection 44, 45, carrying the armatures 46, 47 of electromagnets48, 49 inwardly projecting from the sides of the casing. Arms 44, 45project from the stem towards the rear so that energization of theirelcctromagn'ets will attract, the armatures and will cause rearwardangular movement of the forked members 39, and these in their turn willforce towards the rear the plate engaged thereby.

Two electromagnets, one at each side of each plate are thereforesufiicient to operate said plate no matter how many shutter bars theplatecontrols; said two electromagnets being inserted in parallel on thesame circuit. The electromagnets controlling adjoining plates may beplaced in staggered position in relation to the others, or elseelectromagnets controlling one plate may be placed at two differentsides from those controlling the next plate as shown; so thatelectromagnets can be conveniently arranged to provide suflicientangular movement of the forked members without the possibility -ofmutual interferonce, while the plates may beset quite close to eachother. Forinstance, it is quite possible,

in a device of relatively small dimensions I to use plates onlyone-sixteenth of an inch thick, only three-sixteenths of an inch apart,so that in a device twenty inches deep, allowing for four inches of lostspace between the front and rear, it is possible to have upward of sixtyplates, corresponding to as many different signals. Accordingly, whilesuch a device may have over two thousand openings and shutter bars,sixty circuits will be all that are needed to control sixty ('lill'erentsignals, or less if less signals are used; so that it is obvious thatfrom'an electrical stand-point this'de'vice is far simpler than anyother heretofore known.

I will now describe a simple method for establishing operativeconnection between each plate and the shutter bars to be controlledthereby. I have mentioned. before that series of bushings 35 areinserted over each shutter bar for the entire length of the bar fromfront collar members 50 abutting.

to slide over'the bushings except where a bushing is provided with aflange such as-51 at the rear of the plate. Therefore, by providing theshutter bars which are to be controlled by a certain plate, with flangedbushings and the remaining bars with plain bushings, it is obvious thatif that plate is displaced towards the rear it will force towards therear those bars upon which the flanged bushings have been inserted. Thesame plate will freely slide over the other bars, the position of whichwill remain unaltered due to the action of their respective springs 20.-

Due to this arrangementit will therefore be seen that when any set oftwo electromagnets is energized causing rearward displacement of-thecorresponding plate, the plate will cause rearward movement of a certaingroup or combination ofshutter bars which have been provided withflanged bushings in correspondence of the plate, causing light to showthrough the corresponding openings at the front-"display board. As soonas the electric circuit is interrupted, the electromagnets becomedeenergized and the plate will resume its former position to which itwill be forced by the action of springs 20 of the bars which have beendisplaced thereby. The bars, of course, will also resume their normalposition and the signal will no longer be visible. In this manner byusing unitary bushings such as35, one for each plate on each bar, it ispossible to arrange any desired combination of signals for each plate asthe same are inserted in succession in their relative posi tions. It isalso possible to arrange for the effect illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6where certain bars are displaced to the rear less than others, causing adifference in the relative brilliancy of certain parts of the display.This is obtained by using flanged bushings such as 52, the flange ofwhich 53 does not abut against the-rear surface of the correspondingplate but is somewhat to the rear thereof. Assuming for instance, thatplate 33' in Fig. 4 is displaced to the rear in the mannerindicated itWill be understood that the 3R1 and 5th bars from the left will bedisplaced the same distance, the 2nd. bar from the left which isprovided with a bushing 52, the flange 53 of whichis'somewhat to therear of plate 33' will allow a certain lost motion of the plate, beforethe bar will begin to share in its movement, so that in the end the saidbar will be moved a distance which is less than the distance traveled bythe 3rd and 5th bars. Therefore, the opening at the display boardcorresponding to said 2nd bar will be uncovered less than the openingscorresponding to the 3rd and 5th bars, and the relative effect will beas described in connec-- tion with bars 24 and 25 respectively.

It is obvious that this arrangement lends itself to any suitable systemof control. If

the various signals have to be successively displayed in a systematic"or predetermined arrangement, it is possible to use a mechanically orelectrically operated controller causing the energization anddeenergization of the various electromagnets in the order set. On theother hand when it is desirable to have the indications displayed by thedevice under the control of the operator, the controller used may beoperated by hand, so that any signal will be displayed at any timeaccording to the position to which the controller is set by theoperator.

The latter system is preferable when the device is used to transmitintelligence or orders or signals according to conditions which mayvvary from time to time, such as the case for instance in connection withmarine and power house .telegraphs. In the case illustrated, where thedevice is used as. a station indicator it is also desirable to have itsoperation controlled by the motorlnan, because some trains may stop atcertain stations, while other trains may stop at other stations, or onlyat a less number of stations.

In the arrangement described, it will be observed that there is nopossibility of interference between plate and plate because while aplate is only capable of rearward movementrelative to the bars which arenot provided with flanged bushings in correspondence of the plate, thebars themselves may be displaced to the rear without causing anymovement of the plates, because flanges 51, ,53 are any one plate willnot cause any movement of the remaining plates. Where the display boardis likely to be exposed to external sources of light, as is the case inrailroad and subway cars for instance, it is best to equip it with ashield such as 54 surrounding and forwardly projecting from the displayboard, the effect of said shield being to prevent intense illuminationof the board from external sources, otherwise such an intenseillumination might interfere with the visibility of the indicationsdisplayed. I

The device can also be. designed for operation by other than electricalpower, for instance b pneumatic or by mechanical means by' suita 1ymodifying its construction and system of control. I prefer however, touse electric operation, as illustrated on account of its obviousconvenience. In this connec-- tion it will be observed that the devicehas also the advantage of saving considerable power as against thatrequired by an electric sign of the ordinary type. In fact in thepresent case, only a very small number of bulbs is kept continuouslylighted as against the intermittent lighting of a great number ofbulbs'in the other case. I This not only requires more power but alsogreatly shortens the life of the bulbs themselves.

While the drawings represent the device in its preferred form, the sameare intended for illustrative purposes only, because it is obvious thatthe invention may be varied in a number of details without departingfrom the inventive idea. For instance, the visibility of the dots ofwhich each letter or number is composed may be obtained by moving theshutter bars outwardly instead of incontrolling the operation of theplates;

Therefore, I reserve myself the right to carry my invention-intopractice in all those ways and manners which may best suit variousrequirements and which may enter fairly into the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In a device,of the class described, the

combination with a display board provided with a plurality ofopeningssuitablyarranged to form a variety of signals, and a source oflight at the rear thereof, of an axially movable shutter member for eachopen ing, provided with a head having an increasing section from frontto rear.

2. In a device of the class described, the

- combination with a display board provided with a plurality of openingssuitably-wrranged to form a variety of signals, of light generatingmeans at the rear of said board, and anaxially movable shutter memberfor each opening provided with a head having a light reflecting surface.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a displayboard provided with .-a plurality of openings suitably arranged to forma variety of signals, of ,a light chamber at the rear of said board,light generating means mounted laterally of said chamber, and an axiallymovable shutter member for each opening adapted to reflect throughsaidppening, the lateral light rays directed by said light generatingmeans.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a displayboard provided with a plurality of openings suitably ar:

I movement.

ranged to form a variety of signals, and a shutter member-for eachopening adapted to cover or uncover-the same, of a member movablelongitudinally of said shutter members adapted to cause the simultaneousoperation of a group of the same in a predetermined combination, andelectromagnetic means controlling the operation of said movable member.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a displayboard provided with a plurality of openings suitably arranged to form avariety of signals, and a shutter member for each opening adapted tocover or uncover the same, of a plurality of operating members movablelongitudinally of said shutter members, each operating member beingadapted to cause the simul-' taneous operation of a group of saidshutter members in a corresponding predetermined combination.

6. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a display board, provided with a plurality of openingssuitably arranged to form a variety of signals, and a shutter member foreach opening adapted to cover or uncover the same, of a plurality ofoperating members operatively associated with said shutter members, eachadapted to cause the simultaneous operation of a group of said shuttermembers in selectively actuating said operating members.

7. In a device of the class described the combination with a displayboard provided with a plurality of openings suitably arranged to form avariety ofsignals', and an axially movable shutter member controllingeach opening, of means adapted to cause simultaneous axial displacementof groups of said shutter members in predetermined combinations awayfrom said board, said means being adapted to set various shutter membersof the same group at difl'ercnt distances from said board.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a displayboard provided with a plurality ofopenings suitably arranged to form avariety of signals. of a plurality of axially movable shutter barscontrolling said openings, a perforated board inserted on and movablelongitudinally of said bars, and means causing some of the bars tofollow the displipcment of said board,

while the remainin bars permit its free 9. In a device'of'the classdescribed, the

corresponding I predetermlned comb1nat1on, and means for combinationwith a display board provided with a plurality of openings suitablyarranged to form a variety of signals, of a plu-- rality of axiallymovable shutter bars controlling said openings, va perforated boardinserted on and movable longitudinally of said bars, means causing someof the bars to follow the displacement of said board, while theremaining bars permit its free movement,

and means for returning said displaced shutter bars and board to theirnormal position.

10,. In a device of the class described, the combination with a displayboard provided with a plurality of openings suitably arranged to form avariety of signals, of a pluralityof axially movable shutter barscontrolling s'aid openings, apeiforated board inserted on and movablelongitudinally of said bars, means causing some of the bars to followthe displacement of said board, while the remaining bars permit its freemovement,

ing said bars to follow the displacement of said board. I 7

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with a displayboard provided with a plurality of openings suitably arranged to form avariety of signals, of a plurality of axially' movable shutter barscontrolling said openings, a perforated board having perforations of alarger diameter than and coaxial with said bars, inserted on and movablelongitudinally of said bars, and a series of bushings 9n each barconstrained'to move axially therewith, some of said bush- 0 ings havingflanges of a diameter larger than the openings in said board,-in thepath of its travel calising the corresponding bars to fol low thedisplacement of said board. 13. In adevice of the class described, thecombination with a'display board provided with a plurality of openingssuitably arranged to form a variety of signals, of a plurality ofaxially movable shutter bars controlling said operiings, a perforatedboard having perforations of a largerdiameter than and coaxial with saidbars, inserted on and movable longitudinally of said bars, and

a series of bushings on each bar constrained to move axially therewith,some of said bush -ings having flanges of a diameter larger than theopenings in said board, in the path of its travel and abutting, againstsaid board and some other bushings having a flange of a diameter largerthan the openings in said board in the path of its travel, but at adistance therefrompausing the bars correspondmg to the first mentionedflanged bushings to follow the displacement of the board in its entiretyand the bars corresponding to the second mentioned flanged bushings tofollow 14. In'a device of the class described, the combination with adisplay board provided with a plurality of openings suitably arranged toform a variety of signals, of'a plurality of axially movable shutterbars controlling said openings, a plurality of spaced perforated boardsinserted on and movable longitudinally of said bars, and means causing apredetermined group of bars for each board to follow the displacement ofsaid board while the remaining bars permit its free movement.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination with a displayboard provided with a plurality of openings suitably arranged to form avariety of signals, of a plurality of axially movable shutter barscontrolling said openings, a plurality of spaced perforated boardsinserted on and movable.longitudinally of said bars, means causing apredetermined group of bars for each board to follow the displacement ofsaid board while the remaining bars permit its.

free movement, and means for returning the displaced shutter bars andboard to their normal position.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination with a displayboard provided with a plurality ofopenings-suitably arranged to form avariety of signals, of a plurality of axially movable sh tter barscontrolling said openings, a plur lity of spaced perforated boardsinserted on and movable longitudinally of said bars, and members mountedon some of said barsforming parts of individual combinations for eachboard, in the path of the travel of said board causing said bars tofollow the displacement of ranged to form a variety of signals, of awith a plurality of openings suitably arplurality of axially movableshutter bars controlling said openings, a plurality of spaced perforatedboards, having perforations of a larger diameter than and coaxial withsaid bars, inserted on andmovable longitudinally of said bars, and aseries of bushings on each bar constrained'to move axially therewith.some of said bushings corresponding to in dividual groups of bars foreach board, having flanges of a diameter larger than the openings insaid board in the path of its travel, causing the corresponding bars tofollow the displacement of said board.

18. In a device of the class described, the combinationwith a displayboard provided with a plurality of openings suitably arranged to form avariety of signals, of, a plurality of axially movable shutter barscontrolling said openings,-.a plurality of spaced perforated boards,having perforations of a larger diameter than and coaxial, with saidrality of its travel, but at a distance therefrom causing the barscorresponding to the first mentioned flanged bushings to follow thedisplacement of the board in its entirety and the bars correspondingtothe second mentioned flanged bushings to follow only a portion of saiddisplacement.

19. In a device of the class described, the

combination with adisplay board provider" with, a plurality of openingssuitably ar- 'anged to form a variety of signals, of a plurality ofaxially movable shutter bars controlling said openings, a plurality ofspaced perforated boards inserted on and movable longitudinally of saidbars, means causing a predetermined group of bars for each board tofollow the displacement of said board while the remaining bars permititsfree moveinent and means for selectively causing the opera tion of saidboards.

20. In a device of the class described, the combination with a displayboard provided with a plurality of openings suitably arranged to form avariety of signals, of a pluralit of axially movable shutter barscontrolllng said openings, a plurality of spaced perforated boardsinserted on and movable longitudinally of said bars, 'means causing apredetermined group of bars for each board to follow the displacement ofsaid board while the remaining bars permit its free movement, means forselectively controlling the operationof said boards, and means forreturning the displaced shutter bars and board to their normal position.

21. In a device of the class (,lescribed, the combination with a displayboard provided with a plurality of openings suitably arranged to form avariety of signals, of a pluralit y of axially movable shutter barscontrolling said openings, a plurality of spaced perforated boardsinserted on and movable longitudinally of said bars, means causing apredetermined group of bars for each board to follow the displacement ofsaid board while the remaining bars permit its free movement, means forselectively causing the operation of said boards, and a spring insertedon each bar causing the return of the. displaced bars and board to theirnormal position.

2% In a device of the class described, the combination with a displayboard provided with a plurality of openings suitably arrangedto form avariety of signals, of a pluof axially movable shutter bars controlllngsaid openings, a plurality of spaced perforated boards, havingperforations of a larger diameter than and coaxial with said bars,inserted on and movable longitudinally of said bars, a series ofbushings on each bar constrained to move axially therewith, some of saidbushings corresponding to individual groups of bars for-each board,having flanges of a diameter larger than the openings in said board inthe path of its travel, causing the corresponding bars to follow thedisplacement of said board, means for selectively causing the operationof said boards, and means for returning the displaced shutter bars andboard to their normal position.

23. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a display board provided with a pluralityof openingssuitably arranged to form a variety of signals, of a plurality ofaxially movable shutter bars controlling said openings, a plurality ofspaced perforated boards inserted on and movable longitudinally of saidbars, and members mounted on some of said bars forming parts .ofindividual combinations for each board, in

the path of the travel of said board causing said bars to follow thedisplacement of said board, permitting free movement of said bars inrelation to the remaining boards.

24. In a device of the class described, the combination with a displayboard provided with 'a plurality of openings suitably arranged to form avariety of signals, of light generating means mounted at the rear ofsaid board, and a shutter member for each opening axially movable to andfrom said opening.

25. In a device of the class described, the combination with a displayboard provided with a plurality of openings suitably arranged to form avariety of signals, of light generating means at the rear of said board,a plurality of axially movable shutter bars controlling said openings, aplurality of spaced perforated boards inserted on and movablelongitudinally of said bars, and means causing a predetermined group ofbars for each board to follow the displacement of said board while theremaining bars permit its free movement.

26. In a device of the class described, thev combination with a displayboard provided with a plurality of openings suitably arranged to form avariety of signals, of light generating means at the rear ofsaid board,a plurality of axially movable shutter bars controlling said openings, aplurality of spaced perforated boards inserted on and, movablelongitudinally of said bars, means causing a predetermined group of barsfor each board to follow the displacement of said board while theremaining bars permit its free movement, and means for returning thedisplaced shutter bars and board to their normal position.

27. In a device of the class described, the combination with a display.board provided with a plurality of openings suitably arranged to form avariety of signals, of light generating means at the rear of'said board,a plurality of axially movable shutter bars controlling said openings, aplurality of spaced perforated boards inserted on and movablelongitudinally of said bars, means causing a predetermined group of barsfor each board to follow the displacement, of said board while theremaining bars permit its free movement and means for selectivelycausing the opera- I tion of said boards.

28. In a device of the class described, the

I combination with a display board provided ranged to form a variety ofsignals, of light generatlng means at the rear of said board, a.

with a plurality of openings suitably arplurality of axially movableshutter bars provided with a head having a light reflecting surfacecontrolling said openings, a plurality of spaced perforated boardsinserted on and movable longitudinally of said. bars, meanscausing apredetermined group of barsfor each board to follow the displacement ofsaid board while the remaining bars permit its free movement, means forselectively controlling the operation of said boards, and means forreturning the displaced shutter bars and board to their normal position.

29.. In a device of the class described,

the combination with a display board provided with a plurality ofopenings suitably arranged to form a variety of signals, of lightgenerating means at the rear of said board, a plurality of axiallymovable shutter bars each provided with a head having a light reflectingsurface controlling said openings, a plurality of spaced perforatedboards inserted on and movable longitudinally of said bars, meanscausing a predetermined group of bars for each board to follow thedisplacement of said board while the remaining bars permit its freemovement, means for selectively causing the operation of said boards,and a spring inserted on each bar causing the return of the displacedbars and board to their normal position.

30. In a device of the class described, the combination with a displayboard provided with a plurality of openings suitably arranged to form avariety of signals, of light reflecting means at the rear of said board,a plurality of axially movable shutter bars each provided with a headhaving a light reflecting surface controlling said openings, a pluralityof spaced perforated boards, having perforations of a larger diameterthan and coaxial with said bars, inserted on and movable longitudinallyof said bars. a series of bushings on each bar constrained to moveaxially therewith, some of said bushings corresponding to individualgroups of bars for each board, having flanges of a diameter lar er thanthe openings in said board in the path of its travel, causing thecorresponding combination with a display board provided with apluralityiof openings suitably arranged to form a variety of signals, aplurality of individual shutter members one member controllingeachopening, and a plurality of operating members therefor independent ofone another, of means foroperativelyassociating groups of said shuttermembers with each operating member, causing simultaneous op-, eration ofthe shutter members in each group.

32. In a device of the class described, the combination with a displayboard provided with a plurality of openings suitably arranged to form avariety of signals, a plurality of axiallymovable shutter bars controlling said openings, and a plurality of spaced perforated boardsinserted on and movable longitudinally of said bars, of means mounted onsome of said bars in the path of the travel of each board, causing apredetermined group of bars for each board to follow the displacement ofsaid board, in a given direction, said means permitting free movement ofsaid bars through said boards in the same direction.

33. In a device' for displaying signals, a display board comprising aplurality of systematically arranged normally covered openings, meansfor covering said openings, adapted to expose a peripheral clearancespace around said openings when withdrawn therefrom, permitting light toshow through said peripheral clearance spaces, and means foroperatingsaid covering means.

34. In a device for displaying signals, a display board comprising aplurality of systematically arranged normally covered openings, meansfor exposing a peripheral clearance space around some of said openingsin predetermined combinations permitting light to show.thr0ugh saidperipheral clearance spaces, and means for regulating the operation ofsaid exposing means, so as to uncover a greater or smaller portion ofsaid openings, according to the intensity of display desired.

35. In a device for displaying signals, a display board comprising aplurality of systematically arranged normally covered openings, meansfor exposing a peripheral clearance space around some of said openingsin predetermined combinations permitting light to show through saidperipheral clearance spaces, and means for regulating the operation ofsaid exposing means causing some of the same to expose a portion of theopenings controlled thereby, greater than the exposed portion of otheropenings in order to cause different parts of the same signal to be displayed with different intensities.

36. In a device of the class described, the combination with a displayboard provided with a pluralityof openings suitably arranged to form avariety of signals, and a source of light at the rear thereof, of amovable shutter member for each opening provided with a light reflectinghead, causing light originating from lateral sources to be directlyreflected through the openings uncovered thereby.

37. In a device of the class described, the combination with a displayboard provided with a plurality of openings suitably arranged to form avariety of signals, and a shutter member for each opening adapted tocover or uncover the same, of a plurality of operating members movablelongitudinally of said shutter members, each adapted to cause thesimultaneous operation of a group of said shutter members in acorresponding predetermined combination, and electromagnetic means forselectively actuating said operating members.

38. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a display'board provided with a plurality of openings"suitably arranged to form a variety of signals, of light generatingmeans mounted at the rear of said board, a shutter member for eachopening axially movable to and from said opening, and means for movinga'group of said members in a predetermined combination away from saidboard, permitting light to show through the corresponding openings.

39. In a device of the class described, the combination with a displayboard provided with a plurality of openings suitably arranged to form avariety of signals, of light generating means mounted at the rear ofsaid board, a shutter member for each open ing axially movable to andfrom said opening, and means for selectively moving groups of saidmembers in predetermined combinations away from said board, permittinglight to show through corresponding openings.

' GUIDO M. SACERDOTE.

